Apparatus for controllably adjusting die parts



Sept. 28, 1954 OLSON 2,690,087

APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLABLY ADJUSTING DIE PARTS Filed Nov. 12, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR JOHN L, OLSON ATTORNEYS ep 28, 1954 J. OLSON 2,690,087

APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLABLY ADJUSTING DIE PARTS Filed Nov. 12, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR JOHN .o\ so- ATTORNEY S Patented Sept. 28, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLABLY ADJUST- ING DIE PARTS John L. Olson, Minneapolis, Minn., assignor to Dahlstrom Mfg. 00., St. Paul, Minn., a partnership Application November 12, 1949, Serial No. 126,720

' Claims. (01. 76-4.)

controllably raising andlowering a punch holderportion of a die, for locking said punch holder at any desired elevation, and for freely rotating said punch 'holder'on both vertical and horizontal axes.

position for examination to determine whether the element is properly positioned, their separation again to reset the cutting element to a position closer to that desired, and so on until it is located in the precise position required. This means-that the faces of the die must be brought into approximate operating position-for examination a number of times for each cutting element or steel before it is finally positioned correctly.

In the past the requirement involved in die set- 10 Given a large die which normally has a large ting for repeated separation and bringing tonumber Of cutting elements, the amount of gethenof the parts of a die has been met by-manphysical effort required forrepeated separations ually lifting the parts of the die into position of the die parts is considerable if attempted and then manually separating them again, theremanually as has been the normal procedure preby requiring anexpenditure of physical effort of v-iously. The amount of time consumed by this considerable proportions. When the. manufacprocedure is excessive and unnecessary. Someturer receives the die, the two parts are gentimes manufacturers attempt to circumvent the erally received with their complementary faces in manual effort required by inserting the punch contact just. as they will be when in operation. holder and die shoe in the-punch press and ad These faces are held tightly and rigidly in posi- 20, justing the steel inv the faces of the die while tionby hugetelescoping guide posts extending the latter are in position for operation. This is between their respective base plates or beds, the very awkward and unhandy since the distances upper bed of Which is normally called a punch between the faces when the die is in the'punch holder and. the lower of which is normally called press is very limited even when in separated'poa die shoe. Before the steel or cutting elements siticn and it requires overhead work to set steel of ,the die can be set within the complementary intthe face carried bythe punch holder. My defaces, it is necessary for the manufacturer to vice-eliminatesthe need for all this inconvenience pry the two faces apart. To do this, it is essenand needless effort. tial that the punch holder portion be lifted along Also, it is oftentimes necessary in perfecting a..line precisely normal to the plane of .the die a-die or in keeping it in perfect operating conshoe. This is true because the guide posts are dition that work be performed on the interior necessarily extremely close fitting to insure that surfacesof the die. This in the past has involved -p h holder Will always lower the Cutting the expenditure of a great deal of physical efiort eme pf d vthereOIl to precisely the Same which I have obviatedwith my structure. It was pQs1t19n-re1at1Ye the co'oPeratmg elements f necessary in the past in order to work on the inposed onthe dieshoe. If lifted even a'very slight side Surface of the punch holder portion of the i tg one edge than the other die, that this portion be'removed manually and jgi i fifgz f gi gigig Z22 g igi fizgi gi turned upside down or on its side upon a lower Previously, this initial separating has been done f My Invent-ton .elflfmmgtes gt exceslve with considerable effort with a pry bar accomreqmrement of Rhyslcal oft m 1 one as pamed with a great deal of hammering, with well as the labor involved in removing it for worktheresult that the two faces were frequently badf on the (he after 113 has been properly Set and 1y battered before any of the steel was ever set nas operated long enough 1 i becom? Worn in the faces of the die. My invention eliminates An oblect of my mVent 1n 15 to provlfle this undesirable practice and provides f an paratus for controllably raising and lowering the easy means of separating t t face Without punch holder portion of a die directly above the arking either even slightly. die shoe portion of the die in combination with a Insetting a die it isnecessary to set the various set of telescopi guide pins, thereby facilitating cutting elements of the die and their cooperat the initial separation of the die parts-preparatory ing; members into the base plates or beds of the t0 the Sett ng of the e and eliminating the die. in very precise positions. This requires apformation normally'experienced in this process. proximate setting of these elements, the bringot O j of y invention is to provide ing of the. upper-and lower portions of the die apparatus which will rigidly grip the various toward: each otherand approaching operating: portions of a die and. holdthem firmly in place ea in any desired position so as to facilitate the setting or repair of the die.

Another object is to provide apparatus for the raising or lowering of the punch holder portion of a die and looking it in any desired position relative to the remaining portion of the die, thereby enabling the die-setter to set steel or cutting elements therein quickly and easily without manually lifting the die parts.

Another object is to provide a device which, in addition to controllably raising and lowering the punch holder portion of a die, will provide for controllable rotation of that portion on both a vertical and a horizontal axis, thereby permitting a die operator to have free access to the die parts while engaged in setting the steel or repairing the die and eliminating the need for lifting the die parts manually.

A further object of my invention is to provide an automatic lock for a rotatable drive shaft normally used in a die jack or the like to controllably adjust the elevation of the punch holder portion of a die relative to the die shoe portion.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will more fully appear from the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational View of an embodiment of the invention with a die set shown in position in broken lines.

Fig. 2 is a front elevational View of the structure shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the structure shown in Fig. l, with a die set in position in solid lines.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the locking mechanism shown in Fig. 3 with a section broken away to show the key on the opposite side.

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view along line 55 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged vertical sectional view along line 6-6 of Fig. 2.

An embodiment of my invention, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, includes a rigid upstanding cylinder It with a base portion H movably mounted on rollers 12 and having a table or pedestal l3 disposed at its upper end. Telescopically mounted within the cylinder in is a shaft M which carries at its upper end a grip ping mechanism l5 comprising two I.-shaped slidable clamps l6 and I? each of which extend through a gripping base I 8 in apertures provided therefor and are surrounded by a plurality of bushings I9. The gripping base It has a backing plate consisting of a piece of flat metal. The bushings l9 may be caused to tilt or twist on the clamps l6 and H by the turning of a handle 2i which causes the flat side 22 of a locking pinion 23 to turn away from the bushings l9 and the rounded portion 24 to twist or tilt the bushings I9 50 as to lock the clamps I6 and I! in place. Mounted on the top portion of the gripping base l8 by means of a heavy threaded screw bolt 25 or other suitable means is a flat bar of metal 26 which extends outwardly to cooperate with a conventional C-clamp 2?. The entire gripping mechanism it is pivotally mounted on the upper end of the shaft M by means of a horizontally disposed bolt 28 which extends from the front side of the backing plate 26 through that plate, another plate 29, the shaft l4, and a housing 39 and is fastened with a nut 3|.

Carried by the table member I3 is a gripping mechanism 32 similar to the mechanism [5 but in inverted position. This mechanism serves to hold in co-operation with the table l3 the die shoe portion 33 of the lower part 34 of the entire die in rigid position. The upper part 35 of the die is held in firm position by the gripping of the punch holder 36 by slidable clamps l6 and H in co-operation with the gripping base [8 and by the C-clamp 21 in cooperation with the metal bar 26. The die shoe 33 is connected to the punch holder 35 by two telescoping guide posts 31 and 38 which serve to guide the upper face 39 of the die so as to meet the lower face 40 of the die squarely.

As best shown in Fig. 4, the cylinder ill carries a housing ti for a wheel crank-shaft 52 and is formed to provide a seat 33 for a truncated cone section at formed on the lower end portion of the shaft 82. Just above the truncated cone portion M, as shown, is a slightly enlarged section t5 of the shaft 32 having external thread 46 thereon. These threads 35 co-operate with threads t? of similar depth and pitch formed on the shaft it as shown in Fig. l to provide an effective Worm gear action when the shaft 42 is turned by means of the wheel crank 48. Encircling the shaft 42 just above the threaded section 45 is a coiled spring member is compressed by a slidable collar 56 which surrounds the shaft 42 and is keyed to the housing ll. A collar 5E lies just above the slidable collar 58 and is keyed to the shaft 52 by a key 52 to permit limited longitudinal movement of the shaft #2 relative the collar til and to preclude rotation of the shaft 42 relative the collar 5 l. This collar 5|, as shown, has recesses 53 formed on two opposite upper sides of its outer portions. The wheel eranl; base 54 is an additional collar-like member free to rotate about the shaft 52 and has recesses 55 formed in its lower and outer portions to complement those in the collar 5! and to together receive a freely movable key 56 which can be tilted as shown in Fig. 4. The wheel crank base 54 of the wheel crank :28 is rotatably mounted on the shaft 22 at the point 57 in a manner designed to prevent its longitudinal movement relative the shaft 42.

Operation My invention is eas and simple to operate, yet it effects a substantial saving in time and effort. As described above, the die is normally received with the faces 39 and Q8 adjacent each other and the guide posts 31' and 38 telescoped into each other. In order to separate the faces and mount the steel thereon, it is essential that the die parts 34 and 35 be pulled precisely straight away from each other. To accomplish this the die is placed into our device and the clamps IE and I? are brought up into snu position against it. The handle 2| is then turned so as to turn the flattoned surface of the pinion 23 away and cause the rounded surface 2t to tilt the bushings l9 and thereby wedge the clamps l6 and it so as to hold them and the punch holder 35 in proper position. The C-clamp Zl is then placed on the other end of the punch holder 35 and the bar 26 and tightened so as to hold that end of the punch holder firmly. At the same time and in like manner the gripping mechanism 32 is fastened to hold the die shoe {-33 firmly on the table or pedestal i3. The die parts are then ready for separation.

To accomplish the separation it is imperative that the punch holder 36 be lifted directly above mosaics? 4'2 co-operate with the threads 4F of: the shaft M to provide-a worm gearimechanism'and cause the shaft 44 170 b'e-lift'ed upwardly: and 'carry the punch" holder with it;therebyseparating. the-two parts 3 l and:"35 of thedie. When the wheel crank 48 h'asbeen turned far 'enoughto cause-the guide posts- 3'! and til 'toclear each -other the wheel crank 43" is released, whereupon the compressed spring 49' will'force the -truncated"cone- 43 to return into. snug position vdththe seat -4-4: and

beheld there firmly-by friction; thereby locking the entire worm gear-mechanism. All ofthe clamps are then-released'and the punch holder 36' and die shoe 33' are removed. from-the device and the various cutting elements orsteel and their co-operating members are mounted in approximate position on the faces 39 and All. Then the die shoe 33 and the punch holder 36 areagain placedin' the deviceyas previously described, and the die reassembled' to determine-whether the steel on the two faces Hand 40 has 'beeninserted in the precise relative positions required. The two parts-Hand w can be brought together in the same manner as they were separated by merely turning the wheel cranlc 43in the opposite direction. The-'keyt will then-co-operate with the collar 5! and the wheel -cranlr -base- 5 l in a similar but-reversemannerto unseat the cone 44 and lock the shaft-42 to-the -wheelcrarrk 48. Generally numerous adjustments in the positions of the steel are required 'andeach -a'dj ustment involves assembly: andr'dissemwbly of the die set .to determine whetheror not the new position is satisfactory. Each time the .die parts are placed in the device the faces 39 andi lu-are broughttowardeach other andltested. for precise'positions relative each otherand then again separated. Each time this procedure isexecuted our deviceefiects a substantial ,savingsin. time and effort.

.In,.order to eliminate the-"need forremoving the die parts'34 and 35 "from the deviceeach time anadjustmentor repair workis required on'the cutting elements or their co-op'erating members, the gripping mechanism I5 is constructed so as to be rotatable on both horizontal and vertical axes. Once the die parts have been separated far enough for the guide posts 31 and 38 to clear each other, the entire mechanism l5 can be -swung to either side since the shaft M will merely rotate within the cylinder I0, and, of course, raise or lower slightly depending upon which side it is swung toward. Then by loosening the nut 3| the entire mechanism l5 including the plate 26 and the punch holder 36 can be rotated on the bolt 28 which provides a horizontal axes. Then by tightening the nut 3|, the entire mechanism l5 and the punch holder 35 held thereby can be maintained in a position readily accessible for work to be performed thereon. When the work 6 is completed; the nut 31 is released: andszthe punch holder." is swung back into: position for reassembly; To-accomplish this-"the 'wheel'crarrk 48: is merely turned'in the opposite direction, thereby'unlocking the shaft Hand enabling the operator to lower the punch holder 36 so that the guide posts 3 and 381 will telescope into each other.

To anyone familiar with die setting'the advantages of our structure are readily apparent. It provides. a quick and easy method of accomplishing an objective which in the past has consumed a great deal of timeand required a. substantialramount of physical eifort.

It will, of course, be understood thatvarious changes may be made in the form, details, ar-

rangements and-proportions of the parts without departing from the scope of our invention.

What I claim is:

1. Apparatus forthe facilitation of the setting and-:dissembly ofwa. die comprising: a relatively stationary member carrying. a guidewayya means carried by--said stationary member'for gripping and holding. in. releasable, rigid, substantially horizontal position one part'of said die,-:a. relatively movablewmember engaging 'said'gui-deway and having aslongitudinal axis about which said movable r. member isxrotatable and along; which said. member. moves within said. guideway, a means -carried. by said relatively movable member for grippingand'lioldingfirmly insubstantially horizontal position the remaining part of said die, :saidlast :mentioned means being: swingableinia'horizontalplane withsaid movable member as the. latter rotates, and aimeans: :for adjustably raising; and lowering said: movable member relative to said guideway to attain aligned, substantially vertical movement of .said.

standing member, .a. second: rigid member cooperating:with said :firstmentioned. member in closeltelescopingrelationship and being rotatable about an uprig'htraxis, a means 'for-grippin'gsrand holdinginfixed. position one part :of said-die; said means beingicarried'by said first mentioned .membar; a means carried bysaid second .mentioned menrber for'gripping and "holding in rigid, substantially'ahorizontal position the remaining. part of i tsaidrdi'e in vertically 'spacedxrelation to said first-mentioned; part of said-die, saidv last mentioned means being swingable in a horizontal plane with said secondflrigidmember as 1 the latter'ro'tatesabout the upright axis of said rigid member, and: a means :for controllably 1 adjusting .re-zrelative.svertical disposition of first andsecand: mentionedsmeans;

3. Apparatus for the facilitation of the setting and dissembly of a die comprising a rigid, upstanding member, a second rigid member having an upright longitudinal axis about which said second member is controllably rotatable and cooperating with said first mentioned member in close, telescoping relationship, a means for gripping and holding in fixed position the die shoe of the lower part of said die, said means being carried by said first mentioned member, a means carried by said second mentioned member for gripping and holding in rigid, substantially horizontal position the punch-holder of the upper part of said die directly above said lower portion, said last mentioned means being swingable in a horizontal plane with said second rigid member as the latter so rotates and a means for controllably raising and lowering said second mentioned member relative said first mentioned member.

4. Apparatus for the facilitation of the setting and dissembly of a die comprising a rigid, upright, hollow tube, a rigid shaft fitted into said tube and rotatable about its longitudinal axis within said tube, a means for gripping and holding in rigid position the die shoe of the lower part of said die, said means being carried by said tube, means mounted on said shaft for gripping and holding in rigid, substantially horizontal position the punch-holder of the upper part of said die, said last mentioned means being swingable about an upright axis and being movable with said shaft, and a means for controllably raising and lowering said shaft relative to said I tube.

5. A die jack for the facilitation of the setting and dissembly of a die comprising a rigid, upright cylinder, said cylinder being'hollow and relatively fixed, a rigid shaft snugly fitted into said cylinder, said shaft being controllably rotatable about its vertical axis and being capable of upward and downward movement relative to said cylinder, a means for gripping and rigidly holding in a substantially horizontal position the die shoe of the lower part of said die, said means being mounted on said cylinder, a means mounted on and swingable with the upper portion of said shaft about the vertical axis of said shaft for gripping and holding in a substantially horizontal position the punch-holder of the upper part of said die, and a means for controllably raising and lowering said shaft relative to said cylinder.

6. Apparatus for the facilitation of the setting and dissembly of a die comprising a rigid, upright tube, a rigid shaft fitted into said tube, said shaft being controllably rotatable about its vertical axis and being capable of upward and downward movement relative to and within said tube, a means for gripping and rigidly holding in a substantially horizontal position the die shoe of one part of said die, said means being carried by said tube, a means mounted on the upper portion of said shaft for gripping and normally holding in a substantially horizontal position the punchholder of the remaining part of said die, said second mentioned means being rotatable about a horizontal axis, and a means for controllably raising and lowering said shaft relative to said tube.

7. The structure set forth in claim 6, said means for controllably raising and lowering said shaft relative to said tube comprising external threads on said shaft and a rotatable crankshaft having external threads thereon and being 25 mounted adjacent said shaft so that its threads can cooperate with the threads on said shaft to provide a worm gear mechanism.

8. Apparatus for the facilitation of setting and dissembly of a die comprising a rigid, upright, hollow cylinder, a substantially horizontal table carried by said cylinder, a gripping member carried by said table and adapted to cooperate with said table to rigidly hold in a substantially horizontal position the base plate of one part of said die, a rigid shaft fitted into said cylinder, said shaft having external threads on its medial portion and being capable of rotation about its Iongitudinal axis, as well as longitudinal movement relative to said cylinder, a gripping member carried by the upper portion of said shaft and adapted to normally hold in a substantially horizontal position the base plate of the remaining portion of said die, said second mentioned gripping member and said remaining die portion being swingable in a horizontal plane with said shaft relative to said first mentioned portion of said die and said table, and a rotatable crankshaft having external threads thereon of depth and pitch equal to that of the threads on said shaft and being mounted adjacent the medial portions of said shaft so that the threads thereon can cooperate with the threads on said shaft to provide a worm gear mechanism for controllably raising and lowering said shaft and the gripping member carried thereby relative to said cylinder and said table.

9. The structure set forth in claim 8 and said gripping member carried by the upper portion of said shaft being also rotatable on a horizontal ax1s.

10. The structure set forth in claim 8 and a guide post disposed on the inner side of each of said die portions of such dimensions and in such position to permit the telescoping of one of said guide posts into the other when one of said die portions is positioned directly over the other and said shaft is lowered.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,634,861 Weymann July 5, 1927 1,669,845 Valentine May 15, 1928 1,764,937 De Bonal et al June 17, 1930 2,177,821 Dinzl Oct, 31, 1939 2,317,851 Fullerton Apr. 27, 1943 2,414,560 Rosmait Jan. 21, 1947 2,475,692 Borzym July 12, 1949 2,475,693 Borzym July 12, 1949 2,555,313 Bowman June 5, 1951 2,623,413 Moore Dec. 30, 1952 

